 After completing his undergraduate studies, Walsh was hired as a full-time assistant coach at BGSU by Ron Mason.Walsh followed Mason to Michigan State in 1979 where they inherited a program that had only won 36 games in its previous three seasons.After only five years, Mason and Walsh had guided MSU to three-straight NCAA Tournament appearances, back-to-back 30-win seasons and the 1984 Frozen Four—the school's first Frozen Four appearance in 17 years.